Removable runming-board for automobiles



A. VON SCHRENK. RMOVABLE RUNNING BOARD FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I. i916.

Patented July 22, 1919.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHlNdToN. n. c.

.ARNOLD VON SCI-ERENK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

REMOVABLE RUNNING-'BOARD FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed May 1, 1916. Serial N o. 94,634.

To all whom t may concern Beit known that l, ARNOLD voNl SCHRENK, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, haveA invented a certain new andllseful Improvement in Removable Running-Boards for Automobiles, of which the following' is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a cross sectional viewof my improved running board for automobiles.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of one end of the same.

Fig. 3 is a planview, partly broken away. This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in running boards for automobiles, the object being to mount the board in such manner, on its support, that it will 'be easily and quickly detachable for various purposes, such for instance as to form a plank in extricating the car out of mud holes, ditches, etc.; to form a bridge over otherwise impassable and dangerous spots; runways for curbs, platforms, banks, etc.; providing foundation for jacks in soft and muddy roads; providing flooring for working under the car; providing means for forming a table, bench, etc. for use at picnics; providing la platform to support the wheels and tires away from oily and greasy places, and also to narrow the width of the car and make the bottom accessible in case of repairs.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in the construction and arrangement and combination of the several parts', all of which will hereinafter be described or pointed out in the claims. l

In the drawings I have shown one form of removable running board with which cooperates a specially devised attaching device for holding the samein position. The board and its attaching devices are illustrated as preferred forms, but it is obvious that there are many other forms of boards and attaching devices which could be used in carrying out the principles of my invention.

In the drawings, l indicates the running board, which may be either of metal or wood, Iand faced with rubber or not as is well known in the art. 2 indicates reinforcing angles arranged along the under side edges of the board to give the same strength and stiffness. Other forms, such as channels, I beams, etc., could be used, if desired. 3 indicates a supporting bracket secured to the chassis of the car, this bracket consisting of a vertical member which is designed to be secured to the chassis in any suitable manner anda horizontally disposed member for supporting the running board. There may Vbe two `or more brackets on each side of the car for supporting the ruiming board.

In order to hold the inner edge of the board in position, I provide the vertical member of the supporting bracket 3 with a stud 4 which stud is designed to be received in an opening in the vertical flange ofthe strengthening member 2 and an antirattling spring washer 5 is arranged on the stud between the vertical member of the bracket and the strengthening member of the running board so as to avoid noise as much as possible.

The outer end of bracket 3 which is shown in the form of an angle, but which may be of any desired form, preferably has the outer end of its horizontal flange upset or formed with a shoulder 3a against which the outer strengthening member 2 rests. The means for securing the outer edge of the board to the bracket comprises a yoke shaped member 6 whose free ends, or the upper end of whose vertical legs, are bent inwardly, as shownin Fig. 1, to engage with openings 2a in the outer strengthening member 2. This yoke shaped member is substantially U-shaped and the lower cross bar thereof forms a bearing for an operating handle 7 having a cam face 7a formed thereon, which cam face, when the handle is bent inwardly, as shown by full lines in Fig. l, is designed to coperate with the lower face of the horizontal flange of the bracket 3 and draw the U-shaped yoke and running board tightly in position. The hooked upset portion. 3a at the outer edge of the horizontal flange of the bracket 3 preferably extends down slightly, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to prevent accidental displacement of the cam face on the operating handle in an outward direction. The handle is provided with a projection 7b near its inner end which is designed to be sprung into an opening 3b formed in the vertical flange of the horizontal portion of the bracket 8 so as to hold the handle in its raised or locked position. The yoke 6 is constructed of such material and so shaped as to permit this slight springing action of the handle.

The running board is preferably provided with two or more of these clamping devices 6-7 in its length, depending upon the number of supporting brackets 3, and when it is desired to remove the running board, the handles 7 are depressed, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, when the running board can be instantly lifted off of its supporting b rackets for use for any purpose desired. The parts 6-*7 are shown as being detachably connected to the ruiming board and may therefore be separated from the board; or, if desired, the upper hooked portions of the U-shape yoke could be extended .and bent downwardly so as to retain the clamps in position on the board, if desired. I prefer, however, to have them separately mounted, for the reason that the running board is then free from all obstructions at its sides and may be more advantageously and conveniently used in some of the illustrations of its use hereinbefore mentioned.

. Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character described, the combination of supporting brackets eX- tending under the running board, a removable running board supported by said bracke ets and secured at its inner edge to said brackets by pin and socket connections, and manually operable means coperatingwith the outer edge of said running board for clamping it in position and enabling if; to be entirely removed from its supporting brackets.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with supporting brackets extending under the running board, of a removable running board arranged upon said brackets and having longitudinally disposed reinforcing members at or near its inner and outer edges, means on the brackets for engaging the innermost reinforcing member to removably hold the inner edge of the board in position, and manually operable means coperating with the outermost reinforcing member and the outer endv of the bracket for removably securing` the outer edge of said board to said bracket, and at the same time rendering effective the, engagement between the innermost reinforcing member of the board and said bracket.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of supporting brackets eX- tending under the running board, a removable running Vboard carried thereby, studs 4on the brackets for engaging the openings in the inner edge of said running board to hold the same in position, and manually operable clamps coperating with the outer edge of the running board and supporting brackets for holding said running board in position whereby its innerfedge will engage said studs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 29th day of April, 1916.

ARNOLD von SCHRENK.

Vitnesses M. P. SMITH, M. A. HANDEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

